Saiga issue

[B.A.]

I was wondering if any one else ever had this issue. I went to do some dry fire drills with my saiga today and when I went to pull the bolt back to make sure it was empty the bolt wouldn't come back. So I went to field strip it and when I pulled the top cover off I found my hammer was dropped and twisted in the receiver. Upon further inspection I found that the hammer axis pin had come loose from the safety side of the receiver and caused the hammer to twist under the spring tension which must have rocked it out of the sear (if it was locked back in firing position which I'm unsure off.)

From what I could figure out the only thing that could have caused this is for the shepherds crook to have either not have been fully seated in the hammer axis pin, or for it to have come loose some how either the last time I did drills or during storage. I'm thinking that the shepherds crook is also bent which I'm unsure of whether this caused the issue or if it happened because of the issue.

Either way I'm probably going to replace it. I have about 1000rds through it and this is the first malfunction and i don't like it seeing as this is my primary weapon. I'm thinking of replacing it with one of those retaining plates that's held in by the safety selector. Any one have an opinion on the retaining plates?

[Asmodeus6]

Any one have an opinion on the retaining plates?

They are easy and they work.

[dlm84]

I second that they are easy and they work I have used the Krebs before.I had a wasr that had the same issue you are describing. I put a retaining plate in and it fixed the issue.

[Svickstc]

One of the first thing i do with an AK with the stock FCG is replace that stock FCG and sheppards hook with a retaining plate made by Krebs

[nateebobo]

Every ak i have has a plate in it except one that doesmt fit with the fcg in it.

[B.A.]

Well then I guess that about answers that question lol. Thanx again fellas.